Should I buy an oscilloscope?

[Hatta]

I don't know all that much about electronics, but I'd like to. Mostly I'd like to mod consoles and controllers, maybe build some circuits for converting video signals, play with LEDs, nothing too complicated.

So i probably don't need an oscilloscope right away, but I probably will eventually. Guy on Craigslist is selling a Tektronix 2213 60mhz oscilloscope for $120. Decent price for the unit, but I'm hesitant to buy it without a specific need. I suspect that once I buy it, I'll find all sorts of uses for it, but I'm not sure.

Any other hobbyists have a scope? How handy is it actually?

[Ack]

Have fun with Tennis for Two!

[marurun]

I would suggest you wait until you have a specific, attainable project in mind which absolutely requires one.

[NeoRage]

I would suggest you wait until you have a specific, attainable project in mind which absolutely requires one.

If not you'll be stuck with closet food

[Overload]

Have fun Mr. Higinbotham.

[Hatta]

You're probably right. A new toy sounds like so much fun though.

[NeoRage]

You're probably right. A new toy sounds like so much fun though.

If you're looking for a new toy, high powered lasers are REALLY fun! I got one from wicked lasers for Christmas and I've been burning all kinds of stuff . An oscilloscope would be fun for various experiments though.

[Limewater]

I would suggest you wait until you have a specific, attainable project in mind which absolutely requires one.

THIS.

You can do an awful lot without an O-Scope, and if you don't already do that sort of stuff you'll probably be at it a while before you really encounter the need for one, especially considering the projects you mentioned being interested in. None of those should actually require one except possibly the video converter, but even then you're more likely to just be following pre-written plans rather than designing that stuff yourself. Analog design can get really messy.

So, yeah, I'd hold off.

Also, I don't recall immediately, but for low-frequency signals you can find a free or cheap computer program somewhere to function as an oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer via the audio in on your sound card. We're only talking in the few kilohertz range, though.

[marurun]

Have fun Mr. Higinbotham.

There be a Higginbotham about? Let's keeeeeeeeel 'im! ; )